Wilkes-Barre, PA – Joe Lee led every step with 1-2 chalk Massive Matter to land a 1:54.4 romp in the lone $10,000 division of the American Harness Drivers Club (AHDC) trot at Mohegan Pennsylvania’s Pocono Downs on Sunday night (Aug. 3).
Leaving from post four, Lee secured the top with Massive Matter to a :28.3 first quarter with 114-1 shot Campbellini (driven by Dante Scattolini) in the pocket. Massive Matter faced little pressure while expanding his lead through middle fractions of :58.1 and 1:26.2. Campbellini retreated from the pocket spot when making the spin for home while Massive Matter continued to pull away, eventually crossing the beam a six-length winner over Six Sticks (Yogi Sheridan) grabbing second. Big Nudge (Anthony Verruso) finished third, another five lengths behind, and Landia (Tony Beltrami) took fourth.
Frank Catalfamo owns and trains Massive Matter, a 7-year-old gelding by Explosive Matter. He paid $3 to win.
A pair of $7,500 AHDC Pace events also went postward earlier in the day at Harrah’s Philadelphia. Yogi Sheridan took the first division with Ever M to deliver as the 6-5 chalk in 1:54.4. Sheridan brushed Ever M to the fore after a :27.4 first quarter and waded off first-over pressure from Drowns The Whiskey (Raymond Burt) in a :57.2 half. Drowns The Whiskey started to tire outside passing three-quarters in 1:26.1 while Ever M remained on the muscle coming for home to register a three-length win. Telitonthemountain (Michael Shults) took second with Born Brilliant (Joe Lee) third and Big Bad Bill (Anthony Verruso) fourth.
Izzy Estrada trains Ever M, a 5-year-old gelding by Racing Hill, for owner Estrada Racing LLC. He paid $4.40 to win.
After finishing runner-up in division one, Michael Shults found the winner’s circle in the second division when guiding Flying Tiger to a come-from-behind victory in 1:56.4. Shults found second-over cover while chasing speed cut by Pacing Major N (Joe Lee), who circled to the lead after a :27.1 first quarter and coasted on the motor through a :56.4 half and 1:26.1 three-quarters. Flying Tiger loomed closer to the leaders marching for home and successfully struck off a helmet to win by a length over 44-1 shot Stolen Art (Frank Tsipouras) closing for second. Nui Ba Den N (Raymond Burt) finished third and Pacing Major N settled for fourth.
Michael Shults trains Flying Tiger, a 6-year-old gelding by Always B Miki, for owner Blazer One Racing. He paid $10.40 to win.
AHDC action continues next Sunday (Aug. 10) with pacing divisions at Harrah’s Philadelphia and trotting divisions at Pocono Downs. First-race post time at Harrah’s Philadelphia is 12:40 p.m. (EDT) and 6 p.m. (EDT) at Pocono.